Log unloader



(No Model.) a sham-sheet 1.

W. E. HILL.

LOG UNLOADBR. No; 526,624. Patented Sept. 25, 1894.

Witnsssas lnuez ntor.

no Model.) a Sheets- Sheet 2.

W. E. H ILL. LOG UNLOADBR.

No. 526,624. 7 Patented Sept. 25, 1894.

1 m1 mummlmmmnnim itnasseas: lnuentor- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. E. HILL.

LOG UNLOADBR.

Patented Sept. 25, 1894.

(No Model.)

lnusggor.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HILL, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

LOG-UN LOADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 526,624; dated September 25, 1894.

Applic i n fil October 20 1893. Serial N0.488,673. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinLog-Unloaders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates tolog unloaders which are a kind of log roller designed to throw logs and rock-shaft; third, to provide a log un- 20 the trough; fourth, to provide a steam log unloader that shall assume the normalposition ready for work as soon as its operating lever' is brought to or near to the starting point by an improved arrangement of the valve and steam cylinder and balancing of the thrusting bars and levers; fifth, to provide a log unloader as compact and complete in itself as possible so that no great change shall be re quired in the construction of the saw-mill where it is to be used and very little fitting of the parts outside of the machine shop where the log unloader is made. i I accomplish the objects of my invention by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a top plan view of my invention in position in a saw mill, a part of the log decks and the conveyer chain trough being broken away to show the parts. Fig. 2, is a sectional View on the two lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the lower part showing the steam cylinder and adjacent parts and the upper portion showing a set of the arms on the rockshaft and their attachment to the thrust bars D. Fig. 3, is a detail view of one of the guides for the thrust bars D. Fig. 4., is a sectional View on line ir-4c of Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a detail side view of the bracket E for adjustably attaching the lever E. Fig. 6, is an end view of the part shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is a detail view of a portionof the steam cylinder and the valve on line 7-7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8, is a sectional view'on line 88 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9, is a sectional View on line 9-9 of Figs. 7 and 8.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The log decks or skidways A, A, placed on both sides of the conveyer chain trough Z and the trough Z are in the usual form. Through the sides of the trough Z suitable openings or passages are made for the passage of the thrust bars D; On suitable timbers directly below the conveyor chain trough a rock shaft B is located parallel with the said trough Z. The rock shaft B has a series of upwardly projecting arms 0 on each side which are connected by the connecting bars F,F, to levers E, E, on each side, there being as many arms and levers on each side as there are thrust bars D required. There should be two or more of said thrust bars D on each side to make an effective machine. The upper ends of the levers E are pivoted to the lower end of the thrust bars D. The thrust bars D point up and inward toward the logs in the conveyor chain trough, through the openings in the sides of said trough. Each thrust bar D passes through a loose guide G attached to the timbers of the log deck or skidway. There are friction rollers 11 on the top and bottom of each of said guides G so that the thrust bars D can pass through them easily. The lower end of the levers E are attached to the brackets E on the timbers below. A series of holes in the brackets E afford a means of adj usting the height of the same. It will be seen that as the height of the attachment, of the lower ends of the levers E is increased the upper ends of the thrust bars D will be lowered nearer to the bottom of the conveyer chain trough, and vice versa, thus adapting the log unloader to different sized logs. The halves of my improved log unloader are exact duplicates on each side of the conveyor chain trough. It will be seen, also,that the two sides are separately adjustable.

On therock shaft B is a segment gear B acted upon by-the reciprocating rack J which IOC I prefer to reciprocate by a steam cylinder H operated by means of the valve Kalthough it can be'operated by other means.

In operating my improved log unload er the rack J is moved from the middle to one side. The dotted lines show the position of the parts in unloading a logtoward theright. The thrust bar D on the left side will carry the log up and the thrust bars D on theright remain practically stationary the movement being very slight as the arm 0 attached to it throughthe bar F moves only a little past,

thecenter. After the log is rolled 01f on the log deck the rack J is moved .tothe. central position again when the thrust bars Dwil] I be inposition to allow a new log to be drawn up by the conveyor chain .-or-other means 4 when it can be thrownon to. the log deck the same as before orto the other side as required. It will be seen on; examination that i in the movement'of the thrust bars D the upper end; passes first .quite close to the chain and then raises out the 'log,.and,, again when the rock shaft starts the log; the arm O, to

which the connectingbar F is attached starts i from nearthe centerand consequently with great power.

I prefer to operate therack J by the .following mechanismuA steam cylinder H is placed on the timbers below. A- piston red I passesthrough the entirelength of ;the cylinder and isattached by a suitable cross head-ateachv end'to a guide bar below and to the crack J above. The rack J reciprocates in a suitable guide on topofthe cylinder.. The steam cylinderH is controlled by the valve K which is operatedby a suitable opcrating lever. The valve K-andcyli-nder. H

v are so constructed that when the valveK is .is a seat to each section.

moved to the central position thepiston head L will return ,to the center of the .cylinder carrying with it of course by meansof its connectionsthe rack J and so operating. the.

log unloader andby stopping it on the .cen-

ter leaves it ready for action when the next. ,log is hauled up. This dispenseswith springs and weights and auxiliary steamcylinders forthat purposewhich have beenheretofore used.

. The valve K and so much of the steam cyl-,

inder II as is necessary to showthe details of this construction are shown in Figs. 7, 8

and 9. The valve is abalanced piston valve and is divided into four sections one at each end 0, 0,.and two toward the center 0' c. The valveisreducedin size between the sections for the passage of steam and the cham bers are enlarged betweeneach seat and there Through thecentral sections a c are openings f5 so that steam can pass through them freely from one.

section .0 to .theother. Pipes a a rumfrom the annularnvalve seatsof the sections 0, c,.tlo the endsof the steam \cylinder. There is a port fat the center of the valve opening-into the; enlarged chamber 61- betweenthe seats of the central sections 0' c. This central port .the center of the valve; Exhaust ports 9, 9,

connect by passages g g to the exhaust pipe mat all times. v

-When the piston portion'of my improved valve is moved to one side of the center, for instance to the left,the right hand section a will move over the enlarged portion e'otthe chamber closing it and the portf. The right .hand section 0 will be movedoft from the annular port 6 which admits livesteam from the right hand end of, the valve-chamber through the right-hand vpipe a, tothe right end of the steam cylinder. This will carry the piston head L to the left. The left hand section ciwill havemoved-ofi from the left ,hand annular port 6 and will have connected that port through the valve chamber to the exhaust pipe m inthe central portion of the valve.

The efi ect so far. is only the action of an ordinary steam engine and valve. When the valve is] moved back to the center the chamber between the .sections 0' ccomesop- .posite the enlarged portion e and is, consequently connected with the port fand'exhansts the steam from the center-of steam cylinder H rback. of the piston head through the ports I) bwhen. the compressedair or 1 steamin the, opposite .end of cylinder H will returnithepiston to the, center.,If the expansion of thesteam is not sufficient, to do so the valve should be moved to give that end alittle-steam and then be quickly closed, when it will move the .piston head L to the center and stop it .as soonas it reaches that point for the steam will then exhaust through the passages f out atthecenter ofwthe valve K. This manipulation of the valve will not be often needed for the parts of theunloader as constructed are balanced. to come to rest or be in stable equilibriumonly when the parts areat the center.

' Where my improved log unloader is not in constant use which is the usual case, the

construction of valve Kv and steam cylinder H as above isv preferred-because H it saves steam.

Wherethe machine is in constantuse I IOC preferto make small openings. as 2 z from the pipes aa on each side into the outer end of the. valve seat to the sections 0 c so that a little live steam will. be admitted toboth ;pipes or a when the valve is on thercenter.

This'effect can also be obtained by shortening thepiston portion of the valve so it will not entirely cover bothend ports when. in the central position as will be readily seen on examination. When the valve is moved otf the center of course these ports have no effect. When the valve is on the center the effect of these openings 2 z is that if the piston head L does not cover the ports in the center of the steam cylinder steam will be exhausted from one side througlrthese center ports I), b, and the'pressure on the other end will carry the piston head toward the center and when it covers the port the steam will cease to exhaust and the pressure will be the same on both sides and it will stand till the valve K is moved again. With this variation the steam cylinder H is constantly full of steam. This fact is not objectionable where the unloader is in constant use and acts more quickly and perfectly requiring no extra movement of the operating leverat any time;butwhen not in constant use the construction first above indicated is preferred becauselhe parts are not filled with steam which causes waste by condensation. i

I am aware that my improved log unloader can be varied. Almost any shaped engine can be constructed so that where it stands I on its center an exhaust port will be open at the center of the cylinder by simply boring a hole through it and the valve when at that point, and such a construction will accomplish the object of my invention in regard to the valve and cylinder though perhaps not so perfectly asthe construction I have shown, the openings inside the cylinder bf course corresponding in length to the length of the piston head.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is t 1. In a log unloader, the combination of a series of thrust bars, D, adapted to pass through openings on each side of a conveyer chain trough; a lever, E, pivoted to the lower end of each thrust bar, D, and to a bracket below; connecting bars, F, pivoted to each lever, E, and to upwardly projecting arms, C, on a rocking shaft, B; and suitable means of rocking the rock-shaft, B, substantially as described. Q

2. In a log unloader, the combination of the thrust bars, D, on each side of the conveyer chain trough; the levers, E; the bars, F; the rock-shaft, B; the series of arms, 0; the segment gear, B; the rack, J the steam cylinder, H, having the piston rod, 1, passing through it and attached to the rack, J, at each end; and the valve, K, to operate the same,

I substantially as described for the purpose specified.

3. In a log unloader, the combination of a steam cylinder, H, having a piston rod run:

bars adapted to throw a log from a conveyer.

chain trough onto a log deck, for the purpose specified.

.5. In a log unloader, a series of thrust bars ada pted to push the leg from a conveyerchain trough; in combination with a rock-shaft having arms pivotally connected by suitable means to said thrust bars; and suitable means of operating said rock-shaft, the arms on said rock-shaft being adapted to start from near the dead center to move said thrust bars in.

contact with the log sothat they shall move with great power to start the log, for the purpose specified.

6. In a log unloader, a seriesof thrust bars on each side of a conveyer chain trough, suitably guided, in combination with a rock-shaft under the conveyer chain trough; upwardly projecting arms on each side of said rockshaft; and connecting bars from the arms of said rock-shafts to actuate the thrust bars on their respective sides, so that when the thrust bars on one side of the unloader are operated theother side will move only slightly because the arms will only move a little by the center, as described.

7. In a logunloader, the combination of a series of thrust bars, D, adapted topush a log from a log trough; a lever, E, adj ustably pivoted to the bracket, E, below and. projecting upwardly and outwardly and pivoted to the thrust bar above so that the unloader can be adapted to difierent sized logs, as described.

8. In a double log unloader, thrust bars on eachside of the log trough; suitable means of actuating the same together; and suitable guides to each side for the thrust bars so that when operated, the thrust bars on one side will be raised to unload a log and the thrust bars on the other side will not be lowered so that when the power is withdrawn the raised thrust bars will of their own weight drop down to the place of beginning to bring the unloader in position for the next log, to be hauled up by the conveyer chain, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a double log unloader, the combination of asteam cylinder; log unloader thrust arms connected to said cylinder to be operated by it; an engine valve to control the admission and exhaust of steam to and from said steam cylinder, the said engine valve in addition to the functions of an engine valve being adapted when on its center to open an exhaust port at the center of said cylinder; and small inlet ports for steam at each end of said cylinder to bring the piston head to the center, for the purpose specified.

' 10. In a double log unloader, the combinacause the piston head to return to'the center of the cylinder when the valve is in the central position to bring the unloader to the central position, for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination, in a double log unloader, of the cylinder, H, containing the piston head, L, adapted to cover thecentral exhaust ports, I), b, of said cylinder; log unloader thrust arms connected to said cylinder to be operated by it; avalve, K, consisting of a piston portion having end sections, 0, c, and central sections, 0', 0'; seats in the valve casing for eachsection, the valve chamber being enlarged between the seats and at each end.

of' thepiston portion, andthe piston portion reduced in size between the sections and at the ends; pipes, a, a, connecting. ports, 6, e,

in the end seats to'the ports in the end of the steanrcylinder; exhaust port,f, adapted to open when the valve is in the center; and

openings, f through the central sections, 0',

'c, and opening, (1 through the middle of the valve; and exhaust pipe, m connected at all times with the central part of the valve;and

inlet pipe, Z, connecting the end chamber with the steam supply at all times, all operated as described for the purpose specified.

12. The combination in a double log unloader,.of 10g unlo'ader arms; the cylinder connected thereto to operate them, and containing the piston head, L, adapted to cover the central exhaust ports, 5, b, of said cylinder; a valve, E, consisting of a piston portion having end sections, 0, c, and central sections, c, c',; seats in the valve casing for each section; the valve chamber being enlarged between the seats and at each end of the piston portion, and the piston portion reduced in size between the sections and at the ends; pipes a, a; connecting ports, 6, e, and ports to passages, z, z, in the end seats to the ports in the end of the steam cylinder exhaust port,f, adapted to open when the valve is in the center; and openingsj', through the central sections, 0, c, and opening, at, through the middle of the valve; and exhaust pipe, m, connected at all times withthe central part of the valve; and inlet pipe, Z, connecting the end chambers with the steam supply at all times; all operated-as described for the purpose specified. I

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. HILL. '[L. s}

' Witnesses:

WALTER S. W001),

THEODORE MERRILL. 

